Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1900 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

From Our Regular Correspondent: The assembling of Congress found the Capitol full of ugly and sensational rumors connected with the Isthmian Canal question.! Some of these rumors make charges entirely too serious to be repeated without proof of their truthfulness, as to what has been accomplished by the lobbyists employed by the Panama Canal Company, in>their efforts to.delay Congressional action authorizing the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. But there are some facts which speak for themselves. Sometime ag© it announced in a semi-officiarmanner that the report of the Canal Commission would be strongly in favor of the Nicaragua route; now it is allowed to become known that the report of the commission will not specify a preferable route but will give its estimates of the cost of the Canal by the Nicaragua route, and the cost of the completion of the Panama Canal, together with the terms upon which this government can secure control of the latter ,and leave Congress to decide for itself. What brought about this change? That is the question that the rumors deal with. The President of the Panama Canal Company ha:l long conference with the Secretary of State, and, of course, everybody knows what the gentleman is in Washington for. Although the Nic aragua Canal bill, which passed the House at the last session was, by resolution of the Senate, made a special order for Wednesday ofthis week, a programme has been arranged by which the Ship Subsidy bill will bo used to side track the Canal bill, unless the programme is upset by a majority vote of the Senate. The Panama Canal Company has caused one great National which disgraced eminent Frenchmen, and from present indications, it may cause another, that will disgrace somo prominent Americans. The Jackson Democratic Association, of Washington, is ar- ; ranging for its annual celebration of .Jackson Day, Jan. Bth next, with as much enthusiasm ns its members could possibly have displayed, had the party been victors in the late campaign. The Jacksonions are of the same undaunted brand as was “Old Hickory” himself, and the result of campaigns cuts no figure in theircalculations | when comparod with the principles they value far more than triumph. Representative Shaffroth, of Colo., said of the contest for the sent which will be vacated March 4th, by Senator Wolcott: “It promises to be the most interesting, and the closest call ever known in thnt section. Three of the strongest men in the state are now candidates Gov. Thomas, former Governor Adams, and Thomas F. Patterson, and it is just possible that Mr. Charles J. Hughes, a prominent mining lawyer, may enter the field as the fourth:”

Although all knowledge on the subject is denied at the Department, many persons in Washington believe the correctness of the story that embalmed beef Eagan will shortly be restored to duty as Commissary General of the Army, by Air. McKinley. Representative Neville, of Nebraska, who was re-elected says he thinks Editor Rosewater has too many republican enemies to succeed in getting elected to the Senate. Notwithstanding his previous humiliating experiences in that line, Secretary Root has again smothered an important public document on the ridiculous ground that it is a confidential matter not intended to •be made public. The document in question is the report made by an expert accountant from the Treasury Department, who was sent to Cuba at Secretary Root’s request to go thoroughly over the accounts of Rathbone and Neely. The real reason for not making it public is that it shows the stealing in Cuba to have been greater and more systematic than anybody had supposed. A similar report was made by the accountant to the Senate Committe on Relations with Cuba, which has been trying so hard not to comply with the Senate resolution directing it to investigate Cuban finances. If these reports are not made public, there is likely to be some plain talk in Congress on the right of an official to suppress a report made by a minor official under orders and under public pay. If such reports are not public documents, pray what are? A treaty has been signed with Nicaragua, giving the U. S. the right to construct and operate the the Nicaragua Canal, which will be sent to the Senate for ratification, but whether the Panama lobby will allow it to be acted upon, only time can. tell. A democratic caucus of the House is now in session, to decide upon the party policy to be followed in dealing with the army reorganization bill, which the republicans will push at once. Senator Martin, of Va., said of the attitude of the democrats toward the legislation of the session: “I see no reason for any captious objection or dilatory tactics on the part of the democrats. 1 do not mean that the minority has no responsibility but that the democrats will be satisfied

with a statement of their objections, and with recording their votes against bills they do not approve.” The price of dental work cuts no figure this year. We are advertising our new office which is convenient and up-to-date. Oar work is the best that money can buy. Please bear this in mind. We are located in the east p»rt of town. Dr. Horton, Dentist.